Aoba Japan International SchoolVerified

In Brief

Aoba is the right call if you want a full IB Continuum school where Japanese is genuinely embedded - not an add-on - and you're comfortable with campuses outside central Tokyo. At JPY 2.65M for secondary, it's one of the most affordable full-continuum IB options in the city.

Aoba has been running a full IB Continuum since 1976 - PYP, MYP, and Diploma under one umbrella - longer than almost any school in Japan. The bilingual requirement is real: every student, from age 2, studies Japanese daily, placed by proficiency level rather than nationality. For families settling in Japan for more than a couple of years, this makes a meaningful difference. Around 790 students from 46 nationalities across three campuses (Hikarigaoka in Nerima, Meguro, and Bunkyo) means the school is sizeable enough for a full programme but avoids the scale of ASIJ.

The fee structure is one of Aoba's practical strengths. Secondary tuition at JPY 2,650,000 sits well below ASIJ, BST, and Nishimachi - the one-time costs (registration JPY 317,000, building development JPY 302,000) are also more manageable than some Tokyo schools. CIS and NEASC accreditation means the Diploma is well recognised for US and European university applications. The inquiry-based PYP is particularly well regarded, and families moving children through from primary into MYP report good continuity.

The main campus is in Hikarigaoka, Nerima - north-west of the Yamanote line and a genuine commute from Minato-ku or Shibuya. The Meguro and Bunkyo campuses serve primary ages and are better placed for families in those areas, but the secondary programme is Hikarigaoka-based. Ask the admissions team which campus is relevant for your child's year group and what the realistic journey looks like from your address. The 46-nationality count is modest compared to TIS or Nishimachi; the community skews toward families with a Japan connection rather than short-rotation corporate postings.